After grafting, grafted cell bars require careful handling to ensure the successful development of queen cells. Key steps include protecting the cells from drying out by covering them with a damp cloth, transporting them correctly with cell cups facing up, and then inverting the frame into the colony. Additionally, culling excess or poorly developed cells helps improve the quality of the remaining queen cells.
Key Points Explained:
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Preventing Desiccation
- Covering the grafted cell bars with a damp cloth immediately after grafting is crucial to maintain humidity and prevent the delicate larvae from drying out.
- Desiccation can lead to larval death or poor queen development, so this step ensures optimal conditions for cell acceptance.
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Proper Transportation
- The frame should be transported to the cell builder with cell cups facing upward to prevent larvae from falling out or being displaced.
- Gentle handling during transport minimizes stress on the grafted larvae and increases the chances of successful queen rearing.
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Inverting the Frame into the Colony
- Once at the cell builder, the frame is inverted and lowered into the center of the colony, where nurse bees can tend to the developing queen cells.
- The center of the colony provides warmth and consistent feeding, which are essential for larval development.
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Culling Excess or Poorly Developed Cells
- To maximize queen quality, reduce the number of cells to no more than 15 per bar. Overcrowding can lead to competition for resources and weaker queens.
- Remove cells where larvae appear larger than others or seem underfed, as these may develop into inferior queens.
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Monitoring and Maintenance
- After placement, check the cells periodically to ensure they are being properly fed and maintained by worker bees.
- Adjust colony conditions if necessary, such as ensuring adequate pollen and nectar supply for nurse bees to feed the developing queens.
By following these steps, beekeepers can improve the success rate of queen rearing and produce high-quality queens for their colonies.
Summary Table:
| Key Step | Action Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Preventing Desiccation | Cover grafted cell bars with a damp cloth immediately after grafting. | Maintains humidity and prevents larval drying, ensuring better acceptance. |
| Proper Transportation | Transport frame with cell cups facing upward. | Prevents larvae from falling out and reduces stress during movement. |
| Inverting the Frame | Lower inverted frame into the center of the cell builder colony. | Provides warmth and consistent feeding for optimal queen development. |
| Culling Excess Cells | Reduce to ≤15 cells per bar; remove poorly developed or oversized larvae. | Improves resource allocation and queen quality. |
| Monitoring & Maintenance | Check cells periodically for proper feeding and adjust colony conditions if needed. | Ensures nurse bees adequately support queen cell growth. |
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